South Carolina AD mulling NCAA tournament options

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that the school has yet to submit a bid to host the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in March.

On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Andy Katz reported that South Carolina would place a bid for the 2017 first and second round host site once held by Greensboro, N.C.

“Well, I’m biased, but I think the City of Columbia, the University of South Carolina and Colonial Life Arena is a great venue for basketball, in general … I think it would be a great site for any postseason opportunity,” Tanner said.

However, also has to consider the in-house impact.

Hosting the men’s tournament would potentially block the women’s team from playing their first and second round NCAA tournament games in Columbia, which the Lady Gamecocks have done in each of the last two seasons.

“If you were a coach and you had an opportunity to play at home … but certainly coach (Dawn) Staley understands the impact it could make for the City of Columbia and the University of South Carolina,” Tanner said.

The deadline to file a bid for the vacant host site is Sept. 27.

Tanner added that bids have already been placed for the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 men’s basketball tournaments.

“The 2017 came out of leftfield, so we have a few days to decide whether or not we are going to submit a bid,” he said.